Muhammad Qamar Zia, Muhammad Adnan Bashir, Riaz Ahmed Mangi and Aamir Feroz Shamsi
Based on trait activation theory, the purpose of the present study is to explore the relationship between the antecedents and outcomes of informal learning with the moderating…
Abstract
Purpose
Based on trait activation theory, the purpose of the present study is to explore the relationship between the antecedents and outcomes of informal learning with the moderating effect of supervisor feedback environment (SFE) in small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
Design/methodology/approach
Data (n =388) were gathered from middle managers of Pakistan’s SME sector by following the purposive sampling technique. The proposed model was examined by means of structural equation modeling analysis with AMOS 24.
Findings
The study results delineate that middle managers with high-level self-efficacy and motivation to learn more actively participate in informal learning activities. The study also found that the SFE is a strong contextual moderator between the nexus of personal factors and informal learning. In addition, informal learning also has significant and positive effect on work engagement.
Practical implications
Human resource practitioners and organizational leaders of small businesses can use informal learning to improve employees’ skills and knowledge with less cost. For instance, management should use different strategies to enhance the effectiveness of informal learning by providing SFE.
Originality/value
There are numerous recent calls for research to ascertain the interaction of individual, contextual factors and outcomes of informal learning. The study addresses these voids by empirically examining antecedents and outcomes of informal learning simultaneously through the person–situation interaction perspective. It demonstrates that informal learning at the workplace becomes more effective in SFE.
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Muhammad Qamar Zia, Tobias M. Huning, Aamir Feroz Shamsi, Muhammad Naveed and Riaz Ahmed Mangi
The goal of this study was to examine the mediating mechanism of informal learning between dimensions of learning climate and organizational citizenship behavior (OCB). In…
Abstract
Purpose
The goal of this study was to examine the mediating mechanism of informal learning between dimensions of learning climate and organizational citizenship behavior (OCB). In addition, the study also aimed to investigate the learning climate, in the dimensions of learning facilitation, learning appreciation and error avoidance as antecedents of informal learning.
Design/methodology/approach
The data were gathered from sports items manufacturing small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Sialkot, Pakistan. Sialkot is home to manufacturing businesses that export their products worldwide. Survey data of 318 middle managers collected at 2 different times were used for testing the research model using structural equation modeling (SEM).
Findings
The results demonstrate that facilitation and appreciation learning climate have a positive relationship with informal learning and error-avoidance has a negative relationship with informal learning. The analysis also revealed that informal learning mediated the linkage between learning climate dimensions and OCB. Moreover, informal learning is significantly related to OCB.
Practical implications
HR practitioners and organizational leaders of SMEs can use, encourage and promote informal learning to improve the skills and knowledge of employees at low cost. For instance, management should strategically implement informal learning at the workplace by providing a supportive learning climate.
Originality/value
Previous studies have overlooked the impact of informal learning on OCB and its mediating effect. The present study addresses this gap by examining the mediating mechanism of informal learning between learning climate and OCB.
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This study aims to investigate religiosity and entrepreneurial motivation roles in the goal-specific, involving Muslim students’ entrepreneurial intention and self-efficacy…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to investigate religiosity and entrepreneurial motivation roles in the goal-specific, involving Muslim students’ entrepreneurial intention and self-efficacy. Besides, it examines the robustness model based on group context.
Design/methodology/approach
Partial least square structural equation modelling is employed to examine 502 data collected from Muslim students in Indonesia through an online survey. Meanwhile, partial least square multigroup analysis tests the robustness model.
Findings
Religiosity plays a powerful role in increasing goal-specificity. Meanwhile, entrepreneurial motivation and self-efficacy perform as full mediations in the pathway mechanism of religiosity's effect on entrepreneurial intention.
Research limitations/implications
The current study is conducted based on the previous recommendations and contradictions. Therefore, it clarifies and develops a study on the role of religiosity and entrepreneurial motivation in the goal-specific motivation of Muslim students.
Practical implications
To increase the goal-specificity of entrepreneurship activities, policymakers in the ministry of education and universities must implement and revitalize Muslim students' understanding of the relationship between religiosity and entrepreneurship.
Originality/value
This study defines the role of religiosity in goal-specific, especially Muslim students’ entrepreneurial intentions, by gender, faculty/department and age. Furthermore, it completes the opportunity for research agendas on the relationship between religiosity, entrepreneurial motivation, self-efficacy and entrepreneurial intention.
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Muhammad Haroon, Raja Bilal Nasar Khan and Anwar Khitab
Present work deals with the partial substitution of cement by waste demolished concrete powder (WDP) for reducing the carbon footprints of concrete.
Abstract
Purpose
Present work deals with the partial substitution of cement by waste demolished concrete powder (WDP) for reducing the carbon footprints of concrete.
Design/methodology/approach
Control specimens and the specimens with 20% WDP as fractional substitute of cement were prepared. The waste powder was thermally activated at 825 °C prior to its use in the mix. The prepared specimens were evaluated in terms of density, workability, mechanical strength, Ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV) and rebound hammer (RH).
Findings
The results showed that with the substitution, the workability of the mix increased, while the density decreased. A decrement within a 20% limit was found in compressive strength. The UPV and RH results were closely linked to the other results as mentioned above.
Research limitations/implications
The study deals with only M15 concrete and the substitution level of only 20% as a baseline.
Practical implications
The concrete containing 20% WDP is lightweight and more workable. Moreover, its strength at 28 days is 14 MPa, only 1 MPa lesser than the characteristic strength.
Social implications
The WDP can be recycled and the dumping in landfills can be reduced. This is an important effort towards the decarbonation of concrete.
Originality/value
Previous literature indicates that the WDP has been frequently used as a partial replacement of aggregates. However, some traces of secondary hydration were also reported. This work considers the effect of partial substitution of cement by the WDP.
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Naimatullah Shah, Mitho Khan Bhatti, Sadia Anwar and Bahadur Ali Soomro
This paper aims to explore the intention to adopt Islamic finance (ItIF) through the mediation of attitudes towards Islamic finance among microbusiness owners of Pakistan.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to explore the intention to adopt Islamic finance (ItIF) through the mediation of attitudes towards Islamic finance among microbusiness owners of Pakistan.
Design/methodology/approach
The study is co-relational and based on cross-sectional data. The authors gathered the data from microbusiness owners through a survey questionnaire. The authors used 236 valid cases to assume the outcomes.
Findings
The results through structural equation modeling reveal a significant positive effect of the perception of Shariah compliance (PoSC), knowledge of the Islamic financial system (KoIF), religious preferences (RP) and loyalty on ItIF. Furthermore, attitude towards Islamic finance (AtIF) is a potent factor in developing the relationship between PoSC, KoIF, RP, loyalty and ItIF.
Practical implications
The study’s findings would be helpful for planners and policymakers in developing policies that favourably enhance the attitudes and intentions among individuals towards Islamic financing. The results would inspire readers to go to Islamic finance and an interest-free financial system enriched with Shariah law or Islamic obligations. The study would provide implications for the financial institutions in Pakistan and the rest of the Muslim world.
Originality/value
The study offers an apparent thoughtfulness of the empirical evidence from microbusiness owners of Pakistan. The study would provide a plausible mediating contribution of AtIF.
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Rabia Imran and Raghad Ezzeldin Aldaas
The current research is aimed at exploring entrepreneurial leadership (EL) as a mediator in perceived organizational support (POS) and organizational performance (OP…
Abstract
Purpose
The current research is aimed at exploring entrepreneurial leadership (EL) as a mediator in perceived organizational support (POS) and organizational performance (OP) relationship. Furthermore, it also examined the impact of POS and entrepreneurial leadership on the performance of an organization.
Design/methodology/approach
A purposively selected sample of 216 respondents from the SME sector of Oman was chosen for the study.
Findings
The results revealed that POS and entrepreneurial leadership positively and significantly have an effect on organizational performance. Moreover, the hypothesized role of entrepreneurial leadership as a mediator between POS and OP relationship was also supported.
Research limitations/implications
In spite of the novelty of the research, it was limited due to a few reasons. First, the research design is cross-sectional. Second, the research only focused SME sector. This research only focused on entrepreneurial leadership as a mediator, whereas, other mediators could have been explored as well.
Originality/value
The research on POS and organizational performance relationship is still in its exploration stage. Past research indicate that POS has an effect on different outcomes within an organization, including its performance. However, still, the research on the entrepreneurial leadership process is quite scarce. The current research will explore it in the context of Oman, where there is a dire need to establish SME sector performance. The unique combination between POS, entrepreneurial leadership and performance in the SME sector of Oman marks the novelty of the current research. This study contributes to the SME’s literature and it is among the pioneer studies exploring the mediating role of entrepreneurial leadership in the relationship between POS and OP.
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Hina Munir, Sidra Ramzan, Miao Wang, Yasir Rasool, Muhammad Saleem Sumbal and Asim Iqbal
Drawing on the entrepreneurial event model (EEM), entrepreneurship education programs (EEPs) and perceived contextual support (adapted from social cognitive career theory) and…
Abstract
Purpose
Drawing on the entrepreneurial event model (EEM), entrepreneurship education programs (EEPs) and perceived contextual support (adapted from social cognitive career theory) and perceived contextual barriers, this study aims to unravel the differences in entrepreneurial activity among university students in higher education institutes in two diverse Asian countries.
Design/methodology/approach
This study uses a cross-sectional survey-based data collection technique using paper and electronic methods. The study analyzes data using descriptive statistics, principal component analysis, reliability analysis and logistic regression analysis via SPSS version 25.
Findings
The findings show the positive influence of perceived desirability and feasibility on entrepreneurial intentions; however, the stronger desirability was found among university students in China and stronger feasibility toward entrepreneurial intentions among Pakistani students. The study reveals the negative significant influence of EEPs on entrepreneurial intentions, and this finding is consistent across both samples. Furthermore, the findings show that university students in both countries show insignificant impact of perceived contextual support in predicting entrepreneurial intentions. Finally, the study confirms the negative influence of perceived barriers on entrepreneurial intentions in both contexts.
Originality/value
This study provides differences in entrepreneurial activity by combing EEM, EEPs, perceived contextual support and barriers in two diverse Asian countries, and to the best of author’s knowledge, no previous study considered these factors in a single framework. Furthermore, the findings of the study enrich existing literature and also provide policy recommendations for practitioners.
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Frank Nana Kweku Otoo, Prince Nti Adjei Junior, George Aboagye Agyeman and Regina Bekoe
Learning capability improves knowledge resources fosters innovative capabilities and firm competitiveness. The study aims to examine the human resource management (HRM) practice…
Abstract
Purpose
Learning capability improves knowledge resources fosters innovative capabilities and firm competitiveness. The study aims to examine the human resource management (HRM) practice and employee creativity relationship using organizational learning capability (OLC) as a mediating variable.
Design/methodology/approach
Data were collected from 67 small-sized and 96 medium-sized firms. Confirmatory factor analysis was applied to establish construct validity and reliability. Structural equation modeling was used to evaluate the proposed model and hypotheses.
Findings
The results show that performance appraisal and employee creativity were positively related. Employee participation and employee creativity were positively related. Compensation and employee creativity were nonsignificantly related. OLC mediates the performance appraisal and employee creativity relationship. Similarly, OLC mediates the employee participation and employee creativity relationship. However, OLC did not mediate the compensation and employee creativity relationship.
Research limitations/implications
Due to the research’s SME focus and cross-sectional data, the finding’s generalizability will be constrained.
Practical implications
The findings of the study would be useful to policymakers, stakeholders and management of SMEs in developing a supportive learning climate that promotes experiential and continuous learning cultures to ensure strategic capabilities, sustainable competitive advantage and innovativeness.
Originality/value
The study contributes to the extant literature on OLC, HRM practices and employee creativity by empirically evidencing that OLC mediates the performance appraisal, employee participation and employee creativity relationship.
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Nadia A. Abdelmegeed Abdelwahed
Developing and maintaining green innovation (GI) and environmental performance (EP) has become a significant challenge for every organization. The present paper attempts to…
Abstract
Purpose
Developing and maintaining green innovation (GI) and environmental performance (EP) has become a significant challenge for every organization. The present paper attempts to confirm the contributions of technology leadership (TL) and green HRM (GHRM) to green work engagement (GWE), GI and EP. The study also recognizes GWE’s contribution to connecting TL, GHRM, GI and EP.
Design/methodology/approach
The study applies a deductive approach where data are gathered through questionnaires from employees of manufacturing firms in Egypt. Consequently, the study utilizes 312 cases to draw its conclusions.
Findings
With regard to analysis, the researcher used path analysis through AMOS and established a positive effect of TL on GI and EP but a negative on GWE. GHRM has been confirmed to predict GWE, GI and EP positively. Furthermore, GWE positively influences GI and EP among the employees of manufacturing firms in Egypt. The indirect paths establish a significant contribution of GWE in developing the links between TL and EP, GHRM, GI and EP. On the other hand, it negatively affects the link between TL and GI.
Practical implications
The study assists employers in setting green goals for their employees by offering the required knowledge, skills and training for green environmental management. The study also benefits employees’ workplace green behaviors in performance appraisals and promotions.
Originality/value
The study’s originality assists in overcoming the remaining gaps in the literature by enriching the penetration of the literature from a developing context.
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Saqib Mehmood, Samera Nazir, Jianqiang Fan and Zarish Nazir
This study aimed to explore the relationship between supply chain resilience (SCR) and organizational performance (OP), with innovation (INN) serving as a mediator and information…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aimed to explore the relationship between supply chain resilience (SCR) and organizational performance (OP), with innovation (INN) serving as a mediator and information sharing (IS) acting as a moderator.
Design/methodology/approach
The study comprehensively examined the connections between SCR, OP, INN and IS. An exploratory approach and quantitative methods were employed. The data were collected from small and medium-sized manufacturing enterprises of three cities Xian, Hainan and Guangzhou of China via online questionnaire surveys conducted through Emails and WeChat. SmartPLS-4 was used for data analysis.
Findings
The findings indicated that SCR has a positive effect on sustainability efforts. Additionally, INN and effective IS both mediated and moderated this relationship, playing crucial roles in improving sustainability within the supply chain.
Practical implications
The study offered practical insights for businesses to enhance their sustainability efforts. Managers can use these findings to develop strategies that improve SCR, foster INN and encourage effective IS, ultimately resulting in a more sustainable supply chain.
Originality/value
This study enriched the existing knowledge base by investigating the intricate relationships among SCR, OP, INN and IS, all within the context of achieving sustainability. By exploring these elements holistically, the research introduced originality and highlighted effective strategies for sustainable supply chain management.